Governor Kathy Hochul (D) (above) recently issued $100 million in state funding to support the renewal of roadways across New York damaged by extreme weather.
[Above photo by the New York Governor’s Office]
That funding will support repaving projects at 64 locations – totaling almost 520 lane miles of pavement – and complements the record level of investment in infrastructure across New York.
“We are making historic investments in transportation infrastructure to create safer roads and smooth, hassle-free commutes for all travelers,” Gov. Hochul said in a statement. “New York is home to extreme weather year-round and this $100 million in funding will be vital to helping ensure that our road conditions are safe for our hardest-hit communities.”
She noted that the current New York State Department of Transportation five-year capital plan provides “historic levels” of funding for road and bridge repair as well as for modernization projects – funding critical to help restore hundreds of lane miles of highway impacted by extreme weather.
“Weather in New York is getting more intense more often, necessitating the need for vital and timely maintenance of our infrastructure,” added NYSDOT Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez.
[Editor’s note: Dominguez recently joined the Environmental Technical Assistance Program or ETAP Podcast to discuss how her agency is working to build a more resilient transportation system that handle extreme weather events.]
“[It is] critical to keep our infrastructure in a state of good repair, and this funding will renew vital travel corridors across the state while restoring hundreds of miles of roads to help them better withstand Mother Nature’s challenges,” she added.
This is one of several roadway-related infrastructure repair initiatives undertaken by Gov. Hochul’s administration over the past few years.
For example, in December 2021, her administration provided $216.2 million in “enhanced assistance” to 88 local governments to rehabilitate and replace bridges and culverts statewide.
That funding – provided through the New York’s “BRIDGE NY” initiative and administered by NYSDOT – supports projects that reduce the risk of flooding, improve resiliency of structures, facilitate regional economic competitiveness and prioritize projects that benefit environmental justice communities.
That funding built upon the nearly $500 million previously awarded to local governments via this initiative to enhance the quality of life for residents and businesses statewide.
The governor’s office said it made those project awards based on a “competitive solicitation process” and supports all phases of project delivery, including design, right-of-way acquisition, and construction.
States
Caltrans Develops & Issues Wildlife Connectivity Report
October 11, 2024
States
